Trial against Basil and three others on May 15

By T. Farook Thajudeen
The trial against former minister Basil Rajapaksa and three others of the Divi Neguma Department for misappropriating Rs. 33 million of the Divi Neguma funds was fixed for May 15 by the Colombo High Court yesterday.

The accused had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges of misappropriation of the monies while distributing roofing sheets to Divi Neguma beneficiaries during the previous Presidential Election. The Attorney General had filed indictments against the accused, former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, former Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Development Dr. Nihal Jayasinghe, former Director General of the Divi Neguma Department Kithsiri Ranawaka and former Deputy Director General of Divi Neguma Department Bandula Tilllekasiri under the Public Property Act.The Attorney General assumed that the accused had committed the offence on or about October 20, 2014.